Clark selects Hoosiers over Ball State, UTEP, Toledo

Donovan Clark never got over his first scholarship offer from a Division I program.

Tuesday, he turned that offer into a commitment.

The South Side senior defensive back pledged his services to Coach Kevin Wilson and the Indiana Hoosiers, choosing to head to Bloomington over eight other offers, including Ball State, Toledo and UTEP.

“Indiana was my first offer and they were No. 1,” Clark said. “I felt like a commit was coming.”

Having already visited Indiana before, Clark was again on campus Tuesday with his father to see one thing he had yet to take in, the Kelley School of Business. It was of special significance to Clark due to business being his preferred major.

“The Kelley School of Business was awesome, it just sealed it,” Clark said. “I feel comfortable here with the coaching staff and players.”

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Clark informed Coach Wilson of his decision Tuesday evening while on campus, becoming the seventh verbal commit to Indiana's Class of 2014. He is ranked as a three-star prospect on a five-star scale on Rivals.com and is the No. 10 player in the state of Indiana according to the national recruiting service.

Clark rushed for 1,000 yards for the Archers a season ago and was named to The News-Sentinel All-Area team. His cover skills were unmatched in the area, with the Hoosiers projecting him as a cornerback at the next level.

With his commitment out of the way, Clark will now turn his focus to the upcoming high school season as well as improving his game with Athletes With Purpose on the 7-on-7 circuit.

“Playing in the 7-on-7 tournaments helps improve my game tremendously,” Clark said. “It is great to be out there with guys on my level.”

Clark is the first in-state commitment to the Hoosiers this recruiting cycle. Coach Wilson is looking to build upon a class a year ago that was widely considered the best for Indiana in the modern era of recruiting rankings, with a trio of four-star in-state talents committing to the Hoosiers, including defensive back Antonio Allen of Ben Davis, defensive end David Kenney of Pike and defensive tackle Darius Latham of Indianapolis North Central.